Sky are in cycling to win, simple as that and to be honest as much as i like Wiggins, he's a brilliant TT rider, but hardly what you would call a mile after mile front of the peloton climber like Nieve or Lopez which is what is needed to win a GT.

I'm going to offer a controversial view: while I'm sure his family will be devastated, and my sympathy goes out to them, this isn't sad news. People die all the time: this chap got to take the exit door while doing something that (my speculation) he loved. Good on him.

Lots of room on the hillsides for which most farmers are charging a fiver for the pleasure of standing in. How they will manage to control that with the number of people expected I have no idea. Certainly on Buttertubs, there are signs all over.

In the twisted logic of pro cycle history it's about personality not cut off. It's more acceptable to have doped if you had some panache like Anquetil. Unfortunately Indurain's tactics and personality were dull even when (allegedly) enhanced.

I suspect if Froome was busted for doping many of us would feel cheated that he hasn't the flawed charisma of Armstrong.

As exhilerating as fast descending is, as this news so terribly confirms, accidents however they transpire, can be fatal. Condolences to all.

After a few minor accidents, I often find myself now asking 'Am I willing to let an accident on this descent cause me to be off the bike for an extended period through injury?'. The answer is always 'no'. My approach to the descent then changes accordingly.

I am in no way inferring blame to anyone in this particular incident. We can take many precautions, but descending mountains on a bike will always carry some inherent danger.

Massive condolences to the deceased and their family, and I agree. As a result, I make a wuss descender, but that's not why I ride anyway. If the driver wasn't at fault, then my sympathies to them also, because those nightmares probably aren't going away anytime soon.

On Saturday I would go to Hawes and wander up to Buttertubs - lots of room on the hillsides - then back to a pub in Hawes. A friend of mine lives there and he knows his beer The Spar in the town will be open from 4am, and there will be street parties and music on both days.

But I will be stopping in front of the telly in Shrewsbury, drinking a special TdF coffee blend produced by Taylors of Harrogate for the event. The advert in CW last week uses a bicycle motif with coffee mug stains.

Just had a dreadful dream. In a fit of bravado I've signed up to do Stage 1 of the TdF on my folding bike and, as I'm getting the bike out, I look over to my road bike and cry, "No, No, why did I sign up to this!"

Leaving out a racer who has previously won La Tour speaks volumes. The party line seems to be that the team selected is the strongest possible to win..and a recent winner is not good enough to make it in. Clearly that is not the case. It would seem that the only conclusion possible is that Wiggins' inclusion would be disruptive to team harmony. While that is a huge insult to BW, we know not if it is true or false. It's also impossible to think that Froome had no say at all on the selection.

The disappointing thing for me is that Sky were supposed to be a new and different type of team. This political bs is what has happened for many decades and I expected better of them.

As exhilerating as fast descending is, as this news so terribly confirms, accidents however they transpire, can be fatal. Condolences to all.

After a few minor accidents, I often find myself now asking 'Am I willing to let an accident on this descent cause me to be off the bike for an extended period through injury?'. The answer is always 'no'. My approach to the descent then changes accordingly.

I am in no way inferring blame to anyone in this particular incident. We can take many precautions, but descending mountains on a bike will always carry some inherent danger.

I can only hope one of Froome's lieutenants goes off message and shafts him in the back the way he did in 2012....

oh come on, everyone knows Froome could have won that tour had he been given his head. He pushed on on one mountain and showed that Wiggins was not to his standard and then when told to stop he did and guided Wiggins home, hardly shafting someone in the back is it ?????